Sudbury Advises Against Halloween Trick-Or-Treating This Year

SUDBURY, MA — Town officials are recommending against trick-or-treating this year as coronavirus cases begin to rise locally and across the state.

"[T]he Board of Health, in conjunction with town departments, is advising residents to avoid higher-risk and moderate-risk activities including traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating," the town said in a statement Friday. "Lower-risk activities are preferred ways to celebrate while minimizing risk."

Trick-or-treating advice has varied widely in local communities. In neighboring Marlborough, which is on the state's high-risk list, officials are condoning trick-or-treating. Framingham, another high-risk community, has canceled a trick-or-treating event at city hall, but has not specifically advised residents to avoid the activity. Bigger cities like Worcester and Springfield have banned trick-or-treating.

However, cases are on the rise in Sudbury. The town was bumped up to "moderate-risk" status last week when the rate of new cases hit four per-day over the past two weeks (per 100,000 people).

Sudbury is planning two pandemic-safe events in the coming weeks as an alternative to trick-or-treating or haunted houses. Camp Sewataro will host a scarecrow display, and there's also a drive-thru pumpkin carving display on the day before Halloween.

Some other lower-risk activities Sudbury officials are recommending:

• Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
• Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
• Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
• Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
• Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
• Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
• Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house